corrupt government

Nothing could be more truthful in today's political climate! I think it is pretty easily assumed that most 'citizens' think of politicians in general in this way. One can also assume that probably most constituents think fairly well about their own representative regardless of the job they are doing. (take someone like Joe Walsh - what a horses patoout!)

It is almost time again for the United States to hold open enrollment for their own form of healthcare (legalized extortion) insurance! So let's take a quick look at how this works in a supposed world where it is taught to be a "smart consumer", to shop wisely and ultimately be satisfied with spending a given amount for goods or services. (I think they call it capitalism?)

Let's face it, our political system is one big mess! Conflicts of interest are just the tip of the iceberg - not that that is anything new. It's just that it has become a problem again along with the level of discouse, the unashamed, unabashed, unadultrated lying by our political leaders, the authoritarian leanings of our Congress and a general lack of integrity - the likes we've haven't seen in quite some time now.

Most are saying, "let's wait and see what happens with this new administration" but it will be no surprise as to what is going to happen. Perhaps the specific details are yet to be observed but the general sense that things will come unhinged seems to be a sure thing.

Until "the people" demand that their political leaders (to start with) must have integrity, display honesty and work for their constituency we are doomed to fail. There are enough "people" that want and see what is required but I fear that we as a people will suffer before anything is done. Let's hope it ain't too late...

(Originally published 2-18-2012) Irregardless of the stock market (yet another scam on the working class) or the current state of political discourse. Well it is obvious to most real thinking people that are willing to look at truth as opposed to a rationalized 'truth' that strokes their own narrow perception of the world!

Our Congress has shown the world that they are perfectly willing to not govern as a democratic nation and will (as stated in public by a number of Senators and House Reps, like Mr. McConnell) not only hold the American public hostage but will extort them through minority rule, in a non-democratic fashion from now on and that their only purpose or number one goal is to defeat the opposition party incumbent!

The reality is that one party has been shifting more and more to an authoritarian rule rather than a democratic one. The rush to make as many federal court judicial appointments, the absolutely despicable push towards more and more extreme gerrymandering of voting districts (this extreme version was in large part nurtured along by Carl Rove after the Bush years and termed by him as "Rat F***ked" - which is by the way the title of a book on the same subject), the equally despicable push of voter suppression laws particularly in what would be considered "swing" states along with a win at any cost mentality is costing us our democracy. Trump is (so far and hopefully not much more) a culmination of the last several decades of these kinds of anti-democratic tactics.

We rely on a number of people to act honestly and fairly as our representatives in government. This is something we take for granted, but need we re-examine this faith in our individual government representation? There have always been those who look to game the system, to cheat and thereby redeem some type of profitability whether monetarily or otherwise. From our elected representatives we assume a sense of fairness and honesty. In the past we’ve held these elected representatives accountable by either reelecting them in the next cycle - or not. Perhaps there must be a greater point of accountability from our elected officials since the damage they can create by breaking the trust between constituents and those that they elect can only be remedied after the fact, after any such damage is long done.

Check out this video and then also review what and why large corporations like Monsanto are genetically modifying plants, seeds and other living food products. See if you can look past the advertising hype that "this is only about creating more food for an increasingly more hungry world" line.

It's been our official healthcare all year long, the legislation dubbed, the Affordable Care Act also known as “Obamacare”. How has it faired? That may have mostly to do with your political point of view and little to do with the truth. Even with this new legislation enacted we still have a market-based system of healthcare. People will only get the amount of healthcare that they can afford rather than what they need or is required. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) takes our failed system to new heights with the only participants gaining value from it - the upper echelon of the health insurance industry, for-profit hospitals and the big pharmaceuticals.

[Originally published 10/2014] It's been our official healthcare all year long, the legislation dubbed, the Affordable Care Act also known as “Obamacare”. How has it faired? That may have mostly to do with your political point of view and little to do with the truth. Even with this new legislation enacted we still have a market-based system of healthcare. People will only get the amount of healthcare that they can afford rather than what they need or is required. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) takes our failed system to new heights with the only participants gaining value from it - the upper echelon of the health insurance industry, for-profit hospitals and the big pharmaceuticals.

It has been very hard to keep up with the politics and general status quo these days. There is so much fear and hate... and yes anger. I know some wonderful Christians, Jews, Muslims, Catholics and people of most faiths but there are those that want to speak for the masses of Christians or Jews or Muslims or what have you - and they are often times loud - and I hear a message of hate and fear from them. Sometimes those voices are more moderate but like the proverbial squeaky wheel, it is the ones that are loudest that seem to get the most attention. Those are the ones that might cater to our base instincts, our fears, prejudices and dissonance. I wonder, where has moderation gone? What has happened to create a loss of intelligent, civil discourse and moderation.

Almost unlimited money in U.S. politics and a party asking political members to take an oath to the party! Just a couple of the perversions of todays political arena. Watch Bennie's discussion of these issues and then think, please...

They say you dream about the subconscious, that may be true and if so perhaps very telling. My dreams of late are much like the one I'm about to describe and that is certainly very telling.

Having now to deal with a persistent, chronic illness last night's dream starts in the office of a specialist physician. The physician begins telling us excitedly, about new research and how the latest technology is creating huge advancements in the area of our specific condition. This certainly piques our interest as we listen intently for more detailed information, which we quickly learn is dependent on one specific thing. That one very specific detail, our physician informs us is that we must maintain our premium payments otherwise for certain we will be excluded from the benefits of any advancements in the area of our disease management or cure.

They say you dream about the subconscious, that may be true and if so perhaps very telling. My dreams of late are much like the one I'm about to describe and that is certainly very telling.

Having now to deal with a persistent, chronic illness last night's dream starts in the office of a specialist physician. The physician begins telling us excitedly, about new research and how the latest technology is creating huge advancements in the area of our specific condition. This certainly piques our interest as we listen intently for more detailed information, which we quickly learn is dependent on one specific thing. That one very specific detail, our physician informs us is that we must maintain our premium payments otherwise for certain we will be excluded from the benefits of any advancements in the area of our disease management or cure.

In an ever growing world dominated by corporations we have seen the successful resurgence of the corporate monopoly! Whether you want to believe it or not many of the largest and most (politically) powerful corporations have a strangle hold on products, services and governments. The latest news in the U.S., Kraft merging with Heinz, but don't forget Comcast and Time Warner or Exon and Mobil to name a few of the larger mergers in recent time. These are the ones with names we are familiar with, how about Vodifone, Cellco, RBS Holdings and the list goes on! The folks (crooks) doing these deals will tell you it is a good thing and that the costs of goods and services provided by these companies will go down as a result of the mergers (monopolies). Not so! That is the biggest bunk of bull biscuits you'll hear! In fact once a "market" is secured by many of these monopolies the total cost to the consumer of these goods and services goes up! By a lot in many cases. Check the trend in the cost of generic drug prices recently, not to mention brand name drugs. We all know how gasoline prices have out paced inflation by four football fields in the last 4 decades, not to mention food (especially food commodities - what a con job).

Social Security benefits are not an entitlement, it is insurance YOU paid for! But Congress believes that the funds for Social Security and other social programs are an entitlement for them to raid! The want to make cuts and raid any surplus for themselves and then NEVER pay it back! SHAME on Congress!

Once again we find irresponsible political hacks leading our country and misrepresenting the people of America! The "fools on the hill" are up to no good (as if they could help themselves) and there is no telling what these misrerable clowns will do next. One thing is for sure, they most likely won't be acting in the best interest of the country nor the majority, general working class!

As a group these clowns have no respect for the general public. They truly represent (themselves and) the richest individuals and the corporations that are really running this country (and other countries - most of which are pathetically corrupt).